World Heritage title eyed for Yen Tu Buddhism relic

The Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism has asked the Prime Minister for permission to compile
dossiers of Yen Tu Buddhism complex with a view to seeking World
Heritage status for this national special relic.

The Prime
Minister has before approved a plan to make Yen Tu in the northern
province of Quang Ninh a national centre of culture, history and
tourism.

The Buddhism complex on the 1,068m Yen Tu Mountain is
considered the capital of Vietnamese Buddhism, where in the 13 th
century King-turned-monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308) founded the first
Vietnamese School of Buddhism called “Thien Tong” or Truc Lam Yen Tu
Zen.

The 20,000 ha relic site includes two parts: Yen Tu
Historical Heritage and Beauty Site, and Historical Site of Tran dynasty
in Dong Trieu district.

Besides numerous temples, the relic
also preserves many old religious and cultural documents such as
precious prayer-books and monks’ writings.

Yen Tu Mountain
also named White Cloud Mountain (“Bach Van Son”) is covered by
cloud. From the peak, visitors can enjoy the view of Ha Long Bay’s
islands and Bach Dang River or visit Dong Temple here.

Visitors can choose to either take the cable car to the peak or climb
up the 6km stone-paved path surrounded by thick pine forests.

Every year, thousands of pilgrims converge on the Yen Tu Festival which lasts from the first to the third lunar month.

With significant historical, cultural and natural values, Yen Tu was
recognised as a Special National Relic in September 2012. Last November,
it was selected as one of the 10 most popular spiritual destinations in
Vietnam by the Vietnam Records Organisation.-VNA